The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie | Audiobook Review

When a wealthy, elderly woman is poisoned, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot seeks the murderer among a large group of friends and relatives.

Why Did I Listen To The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie?

The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie is an audiobook that I actually listened to twice. First in January 2015 and now in March 2016. I did not listen to it twice because of it being a great or amazing book, but because it had been sitting on my need to review Goodreads shelf for pretty much FOREVER and because it is so short and I remembered absolutely nothing from what happened, I decided to try listening to The Mysterious Affair At Styles again. Also — I had initially listened to this book the first time because I quite enjoyed And Then There Were None via audio and Murder On the Orient Express via ebook.

What’s The Story Here?

The Mysterious Affair At Styles is told from the point of view of Hastings, who, at the setting of this book which is World War I is home on sick leave from the Western front and staying as a house guest with the Cavendishes. While staying with the Cavendishes, a poisoning murder happens. You see, the house he is staying at is owned by Emily Inglethorp, who was once Emily Cavendish but her husband died so she remarried this younger man named Alfred Inglethorp. Also living in the house are Emily’s stepchildren from her Cavendish marriage – John Cavendish and Laurence Cavendish.

Emily is poisoned with strychnine, and so Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair At Styles goes in the direction of questioning who killed Emily. The prime suspects are John because he stands to inherit upon her death and Alfred, because why would a younger man be interested in Mrs. Inglethorp if not for possibly also standing to inherit. Hastings takes it upon himself to get assistance to solve the murder and lo and behold, Hercule Poirot just happens to be staying in a nearby town and agrees to lend his considerable detective skills to the case.

How Is Hercule Poirot As A Character?

Frankly, I like the two other books I’ve read starring Hercule Poirot much better. I liked how he solves the mystery and how every little detail matters to him. It reminded me a bit of Sherlock Holmes, but without all the deducing. I also think Hercule Poirot comes across as less arrogant. Still, I did find myself a little tiny bit bored a whole lot while listening to this audiobook and I wonder if it is because Poirot just doesn’t feel as interesting or well developed as he does in the other two books that I’ve read thus far.

How’s The Narration Of The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie?

It’s not you, it’s me. That’s the root of how I feel about the audiobook of The Mysterious Affair At Styles. It is narrated by Hugh Fraser and clocks in at under 6 hours which is essentially an audiobook you can listen to in a day or so. I found it hard to really get into the story and as I drove my attention kept wandering elsewhere. I just never was compelled by this audiobook. Hugh Fraser does not do a bad job narrating or anything, he does different voices and has the right kind of accent for this book, just it is not nearly as compelling as And Then There Were None.

Sum It Up With A GIF:

Obviously this needs a Poirot GIF.

Other Reviews Of The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie:

The Novel Life – “Christie doesn’t disappoint with creating almost pretzel-like plot to keep the reader engaged”

Reactions To Reading – “It really is damned impressive how well it stacks up”

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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